Collar holder



Nov. 12, 1940. J. K. EISEMAN 2,221,673

COLLAR HOLDE R Filed Sept. 29, 1939 gimme/whom JOHN A. E/SEMHN,

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Patented Nov. 12, 1940 COLLAR HOLDER John K. Eiseman, Memphis, Tenn, assignor to Memphis Paper Company, a corporation of Tennessee Application September 29, 1939, Serial No. 297,189

1 Claim.

This invention relates to form retainers for neckwear and, particularly, a collar holder for laundered shirts.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collar holder of cardboard or the like, readily insertible into a freshly laundered shirt without wrinkling or soiling the collar, and which will not be displaced during handling of the shirt.

Another object is to provide a collar holder of pleasing appearance, the lateral parts of which, when installed, are symmetrically disposed on either side of a central tab-supporting portion.

Still again, another objective is to provide a collar retainer having a centrally disposed, button thread-engaging portion, and wherein stresses imparted to any of the component parts thereof will not displace the retainer. Specifically, stresses imparted to the button-engaging portion of the tab by any tendency towards relative movement between the shirt neckband, collar and retainer will not exert leverage on the retainer. Concurrently, it is herein proposed to provide a collar retainer, the parts of which will, under no normal conditions, be knocked or pulled off, or 25 caused to fold or buckle.

A further object is to provide a collar retainer engageable laterally with the collar-button threads which, in profile, is laterally symmetrical to provide easy stacking.

It is also intended to provide a collar retainer which, under certain conditions, may intentionally be reversed.

A cognate object is to provide a collar retainer which will not mar the appearance of a shirt if accidental reversal has occurred during installation.

Among other objects is the provision of a collar retainer having a button thread engaging portion which, while it is not visible in use, may be readily and positively located to provide easy installation and removal.

In turn, it is proposed to reduce the cost of the laundering operation, to eliminate bother, vexation and time in donning the shirt, and to provide an article of inexpensive, economical manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a shirt with the retainer installed;

Fig. 2 is a cross section along the lines 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the retainer blank.

Referring first to Fig. 3, the collar retainer 2,

preferably stamped from fiat cardboard, is formed of a lateral, wing-like members 4, 4' symmetrically disposed in a downwardly converging V on either side of the central portion 8.

Extending upwardlyfrom the central portion, a neck l0 connects the tab head l2 to the center of the retainer. Tab head I2 is substantially symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis, which forms the transverse median line of the retainer, with the exception of notch I 4 which extends inwardly from one edge substantially to the center thereof. Spaced fold lines l6 and I 8 extend across neck I0 so that the tab may be bent downwardly.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the collar retainer in use on a shirt 20, the collar 22 of which has an outer fold 24, 24 and an inner, neck-engaging portion having anoverlapped end 26 and an overlapping end 26' secured together by button 28 stitched by threads 30 to end 26.

In doing up a shirt after it is ironed and buttoned, the retainer 2 is inverted, the head I2 is slipped laterally in betweenthe overlapped and overlapping end portions of the inner fold ofthe collar until notch I4 engages button thread 30. The main body of the retainer is then bent downwardly towards the operator. fold lines It and I8 insure proper bending at each end of the neck and provide a fiat, neat top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

After the wings 4, 4' are seated between the inner and outer folds of the collar, as indicated by the dash-lines in Fig. 1, it is not subject to accidental dislodgement in any direction. It cannot move upwardly or downwardly because slot I4 is substantially horizontal. It cannot move farther to the left because the inner end of the slot engages threads 30 holding button 28, and movement to the right is prevented by engagement of the upper side of wing 4 with the collar fold.

The inherent stiffness of the cardboard from which the retainer is formed holds the front half of the collar substantially flat, and the outer fold of the collar stands out slightly, and thus a pleasing and neat appearance is attained in the finished shirt.

While I have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be known that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A collar holder of cardboard or the like mate-. rial comprising a main body formed of two winglike side portions symmetrically disposed on each side, respectively, of a center portion and The weakened substantially forming a V, each of said side portions having substantially parallel upper and lower edges, a center portion between said side portions, and a tab element in the crotch of the V extending upwardly from said center portion, said tab element comprising a head portion and a neck portion connecting said head portion to said center portion, said neck portion straddling the transverse median line of said collar holder, said 10 head portion having a slot extending inwardly 

